Gathering and conveying means for corn harvester



R'. C. FERGASON GATHERING AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR CORN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed June 15, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 16, 1956 R. c. FERGAsoN GATHERING AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR CORN HARVESTER Original Filed June 15, 1942 Get. 16, 1956 R. c. FERGAsoN GATHERING AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR CORN HARVESTER Original Filed June 15, 1942 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Oct. 16, 1956 R. c. FRGASON GATEEEING AND CONVEYING MEANS EOE coEN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- Orignal FiledA June 15, 1942 Oct 16, 1956 R. c. FERGAsoN GATHERING AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR CORN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 15, 1942 /L/ME nited States rlatent 'CATHERING AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR CORN HARVESTER Rector C. Fergason, Gadsden, Ala., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Division of application Serial No. 447,025, June 15, 1942.

Continuation of application Serial 18, 1949, now Patent No.- 2,663,983, dated December 29, 1953. This application May 4, 1953, Serial No.'

Claims. (Cl. 56-109) This application is a division of `my copending applic'ation Serial No. 447,025, tiled June 15, 1942, now abandoned, and of the continuation thereof, application Serial No. 111,057, filed August 18, 1949, now U. S. Patent 2,663,983, issued December 29, 1953, fand the invention relates in general to agricultural implements, and has4 more particular relation to corn harvesters wherein during their travel through the field, ears of corn are picked from standing stalks and the husks are preferably removed from the picked ears and the latter are conveyed to a suitable point of collection.

The present invention is directed toward and contemimproved design and utilizing a single movable conveyy' ing element effectively disposed with respect to the harvesting rolls, for gathering ,the corn stalks into picking relation with respect to the rolls, and conveying picked corn over the husking rolls, and conveying husked corn to a point of collection at the rear of the tractor.

A further advantage o-f this invention is concerned withthe provision of cooperative husking rolls of improved design wherein provisions are made for effectively presenting thepicked cornto yieldable husking points' carried by o ne of the husking rolls for facilitating removal of 'the husks; and an additional advantage is concerned with the provision of an improved device for yieldingly pressing picked ears ont'o the husking roll without interference with the movable conveying element.

Further advantages of this invention are concerned with the provision -of devices of improved design and conv struction for guiding the standing c orn stalksinto efective snapping relation `with respect to the rolls, and for lifting down stalks and ears-into position where they are effectively carried into desired operative relation with rej spect to said rolls.

Further advantages of this invention are concerned with-.the provision of devicesV of improved design and con" struction and association with the harvester rolls vfor preposition Where venting passage of ears of corn into a they may be injured by the snapping rolls.

Other objects -of this invention are concerned with prof' vision of a corn harvester of such improved design and construction as contribute to the attainment of the aforesaid and other structural and operating advantages, individally and collectively.

rThese and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment 'of fea- 1' No. 111,057, August Cil Fig. 3;v Fig. 9 is a sectional View in the plane of the line-IX` ofFig. 10;

plates avoiding or minimizing disadvantages of many l 2,766,575 Patented ct. 16,- l 956 Cie tures of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims,

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation, with parts removed to .facilitate illustration, showing a tractor mounted corn harvester embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the harvester, with parts removed, in its relation to the tractor;

- Fig. 3is a plan view of the harvester, with parts re- Figs. 4, 5, 6 are plan, side elevation and rear elevation views, respectively, of a detail shown in Fig. A3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View, with partsremoved, in .the plane of the line VII-VII of Fig. 3;

Fig-8 IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of an element shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view in the plane of line XI-XI Fig. 12 is a sectional view, with parts removed, in the plane of line XII-XII of Fig. 3;

Fig. '13 is a plan view of a detail shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional View inthe plane ofline XIV-XIV of Fig. 2; Fig. 15 is a plan view with parts removed, of the forward end of a portion of the harvester;

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional views in the planes of the lines XVI-XVI and XVII-XVII, respectively, of Fig.

l5 with the rolls shown in broken lines; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view'in the plane of line XVIII- XVIII of Fig. 15.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a conventional form of tractor 1, or other suitable form of mobile frame, includes a supporting frame 2 carrying an engine 3, with conventional control and other accessories. The tractor frame is supported on a pair of steerable front wheels 4 having their axles suitably Ihung from the frame, and on a pair of traction wheels 6 carried by a rear axle housing 7 supported on or integral with the rear portion of the tractor frame. This rear axle housing is preferably of the dro-p type wherein the central or intermediate portion encloses a differential drive, driven from the usual transmission shaft 8, and depending side portions 9 of the housing enclose gear connections from the differential drive to the axles of the traction wheels 6. A conventional change-speed' transmission 10 provides a variable speed connection from the engine shaft to the transmission shaft; and a power take-off connect-ion 11, preferably associated with the transmission 10, serves to drive a power take-off shaft 12 having an internally splined sleeve 13 at its rear end for furnis-hing power to the various parts' of an implement that may be associated with the tractor. An op erators seat 14 is suitably supported on the engine frame or rear axle housing in desired position with respect -to the,

tractor controls. A fan 15 may be mounted on and suitably driven from the tractor engine, for furnishing an air blast to remove loose trash from the tractor and implement parts. The corn harvester is shown as comprising two units which are similar except as to being left and right, respectively, and each comprising cooperative picking and husking rolls mounted on a supporting frame and disposed at its own side of the tractor frame and with its essential harvesting parts disposed laterally within the tread of the adjacent traction wheels 6, and a conveying device extending rearwardly for conveying husked corn beneath the tractorrear axle housing and depositing it in the forward lower end of an elevatingvconveyer 16 at the rear of is an enlarged plan view of a detail shown in ping section is provided with external spiral ribs 77 of gradually increasing pitch toward the rear end. A rear portion 78 of the snapping section is secured on the shaft immediately adjacent the forward portion 76, the exterior of this portion 78 being provided with equally spaced external longitudinal ribs 79, preferably four -in number, extending to a point adjacent bearing housing 23. The -angular position of the portions 77 and 79 on the shaft is such that 'the rear ends of ribs 77 are in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal ribs 79.

Rearwa-rdly of land spaced from the -roll portion 73 is a trash section 81 secured to the shaft `and provided with longitudinal ribs 82, preferably of considerably greater number than the ribs 79, and extending `from the forward end of the section to a point adjacent the -rea-r end of the section.

4The husking roll section S3 of the Vroll 72 is positioned rearwardly adjacent trash section 81 and is in the form of a cylindrical tube of rubberor the `like providing a resiliently yielding and generally smooth husking surface secured to the shaft by conventional means. A trash section y84 is attached to the shaft of roll 72 rearwardly adjacent husk-ing roll sec-tion S3 and is provided with longitudinal ribs similar to forward trash section 81. Adjacent the rear end of trash section 84, .roll 72 is journaled in a bearing carried by supporting plate 26 (see Fig. 12). -A spur gear 86 is rigidly secured in Iposition on the rear end of roll 72 in such a manner with respect to the bearing support that the roll shaft is held in denite position against appreciable longitudinal movement relative to the bearing support. The gear 86 is in driven relation with the spur gear 87 on the shaft of the harvester roll 73.

The harvester roll 73 is also of sectional construction 4and is mounted on its shaft with the forward snapping or .picking section 76, 78 of the same design and construction as the corresponding section 76, 78 of the roll 72. The trash roll section S1 is similar to the corresponding trash roll section of the roll 72. The husking roll section 89 of the roll 73 is in the form of a cylindrical rela-tively smooth metal tube secured on the roll rearwardly adjacent to the rearward end of the forward trash section. Roll section 89 -is provided with longitudinal rows of diametrically aligned apertures 91 for receiving yielding husking pegs or elements 92 preferably of spring steel which normally project from the apertures. The manner of mounting these husking pegs forms no part of this invention and the details of su-ch mounting are not herein included. -If such details are desired, same can be found in the parent application previously mentioned. It being sufiicient to here mention that the husk` ing points 92 project to a position where they bite into husks of the ears passing over the rolls and tear the husks land draw them downwardly into the space between the oppositely rotating rolls, the latter .seizing the husks :and drawing them through the rolls, the ears remaining .on the upper side of the rolls. As the husking points -92 come into engagement with husking roll section v83, 'the points are yieldingly forced back into apertures 91. 'The forward bear-ing support 23 carries the roll bearings :for the rolls 72 and 73 and supports these bearings in a lflexible manner so that the rolls can spread apart at the forward end when handling corn stalks of a large size.

The several sections of the rolls are assembled on their shafts in such a manner that the ribs 77 on one of the roll sections 76 will be substantially in line with corresponding ribs on the other of such roll sections as they pass a point between the rolls, and the longitudinal r-ibs on each of the trash roll se-ctions 81, 8-4 will be out of alignment with the corresponding ribs on the other of such trash roll sections as they rotate past a point at the opposed side of the rolls.

Each pair of rolls is driven through shaft 59 of the main drive and the universal connection 60 which has its forward end secured to the rear end of the shaft of roll 73, this latter roll being rotated so that the side thereof opposing the adjoining roll moves downwardly, the other harvester roll 72 is driven in the opposite direction.

Attached to each longitudinal frame bar 17 is a plate 93 (see Figs. 3 and l5) projecting outwardly from the bar 17 toward and overlying the adjacent harvester roll 73 to act as a stripper plate (see Fig. 16), and this plate extends forwardly from v.a point adjacent the bearing support 23 to a point in advance of the frame bar 17 and overlies an extension 94 at the forward end thereof. -Plate 93 has a downwardly turned outer edge projecti-ng toward and overlying the adjacent roll 73 (see Fig. 16). The upper face of the plate at its outer edge is preferably provided with a removable wearing strip for a gather-ing chain.

A bracket or frame 96 (see Fig. 18) is adjustably mounted on the forward portion rof the plate 93 through bolts 97 having an enlarged shank portion 918 adjacent the head of the bolt .and passing through a transversely elongated slot 99 in the base of the frame 96, and the reduced -lower portion of the-bolt p-asses through and projects downwardly beyond a longitudinally elongated slot 101 through plate `93 and a reinforced portion thereof. A guide collar 102 surround-s the upper end of the reduced shank of the bolt 97 and bears `against the underside of the bracket frame 96, the axial length of the collar 102 being such that it projects slightly below the under surface -of -th-e reinforced portion of the plate 93. A nut 103 `is threaded on the lower end of the bolt and may be drawn up tightly, preferably through the i11- termediary of a washer extending beyond the sides of the slot 99, against the lower face of the spacing collar 102. The frame 96 may be thus xed against movement transversely of the plate 93, but at the same time the frame is free to move longitudinally of such plate. On release of lthe nuts on the bolts 97, the frame may be adjusted tra-nsversely of the plate 93.

With the supporting frame 96 fixed in a predetermined position, the frame lis yieldingly urged forward along the plate 93 by an abutment nut 104 adjustably held in position on the forward end of .a rod 106, the latter passing in guided relation through an aperture -in the rear end wall 107 of the frame 96. The rod 106 is yieldingly urged forward by a compression spring 108 held between lan adjustable nut 109 and washer associated therewith on the rod and an .abutment `111 on a supporting bracket frame 112 and through which the rod passes. An abutment 113 on the rear end of the rod 106 is cooperative with the abutment 111 to limit the forward movement of the rod and the supporting frame 96. The frame 112 is supported in transversely .adjustable position on the plate 93 and an upper bracket element on the outer wall of a shield 114, referred to hereinafter, by sepa-rate bolts 116 passing through Iapertures in the latter bracket and the plate 93 and Iits supporting brackets 117, and through transversely elongated slots 118 in the upper and lower walls of the frame. With the securing nuts or bolts 1=16 withdrawn from clamping position, the position of the supporting frame 112 may be adjusted laterally with respect to plate 93.

Due to the fact that the rod 106 has only a loose guiding lit in the apertures of the abutment walls 107 and '111, variation of the lateral position of the supporting fr-ame 112 does not affect the action of the rod, urged -by spring 10S, 4in yieldingly yurging forward the fra-me 96 independently of the transverse position of either of the supporting frames 96 Ior 112. A chain sprocket 1'19 is mounted for free rotation on a bearing sleeve l120 held clamped in position by a bolt 121 passing through apertures in the forward end portion of the upper and lower walls of the frame 96; and due to the faction of the spring pressed ro-d 106 on the frame 96, this sprocket is yieldingly urged lto a forward position to maintain in desired taut condition a combined gathering and conveying chain 122 on the sprocket having conveying flights 123 and driven by the sprocket 71 of the power drive near the rear end of the harvester fname. The flights 123 are of reduced .height toward their outer ends 'and the outer portions lof the ights lie over .the harvesting rolls 72, '173 to a 'suieient exten-tto draw stalks between the snapping rol-ls land to engage and convey picked ears rearwardly along the rolls. These chain flights preferably extend from the chain in `a direction having a slight comportent in "a trailing direction with respect -to vthe travel of the chain, as indicated in Fiig. 3.

Chain guides .124 and 125 for the .rearwardly traveling Working course of the chain 122 are detachably secured .to the outer walls of the supporting frames 96 and 112, respectively, 1forguiding or limiting the `lateral movement of this portion of the chain. Through lateral adjustment :of the frames 9.6 and 11.2, in the manner described hereinabove, the chain guides 124 and 125 may be laterally adjusted fto 'some extent to best .provide for the chain satisfactorilyhandling different crops under different cond-itio'ns.

The forwardly diverginginner frame bars 17, the parallei outer frame bars 21 and the associated cross frame members .18, 19, 22 `and 24 constitute an elongated supporting frame which oar-ries the two pairs of forwardly extending side opposed harvester rolls 72, 73, one pair of these rolls being disposed at the right side of the harvester as shown -in the upper part of Fig. 3, and the other fpair of: .rolls 72, 73 being disposed at the left side of 4.the harvester as shown in the lower part of Fig. v3. Also carried by the elongated supporting frame 17 to 24 are right and left trough structures 126, one .of which is shown .in det-ail in Figs. l0, 1.1 and l2. Each of the trough .struc-tures 126 -is removably secured by bolts, through a vertical ange or wall '127 at its outer side adjacent the Arear end thereof to a bracket 123 (see Fig.

3f) attached .to the forward side of .each Vend of the mai-n drive housing 55, .and it is also removably secured by boltsat a vforward point to an'upper ilange or bracket 129 'on the bearing support plate 26 (see Fig. l2). The rear- Ward outer side portion of the trough 126 ares inwardly to the bottom of the trough. 'Each trough 126 has its rear'fportion resting on the upper side of the drive housing '55, with an inclined discharge lip extending rea-rwardlyfand downwardly past the Vrear edge of the housling :'55, as indicated at 130 (see Fig. l0); and it has its forward end secured in position vby bolts (not shown) passing through a ange on an underlying bracket connected=tolthe adjacent frame bar 17. Spacers surrounding-tlrese bolts maintain the Vdesired spaced relationbetween the aforesaid underlying bracket and an overlying flange of :the .adjacent bracket plate 38 (Fig, 3), this spacing cor-responding to the height of the inne-r :side welll-portion A131. ofthe 'troughi126- rihe forward .portion of the `outer side wall 127 ofthe trough 126 is of vreduced height, and at `its forward end adjacent the beariiuglsupport 26 lit is distorted inwardly, to form a lip, Yas indicated at 1:52 (see =Ftig. l0) lying over the :gears 86, 187 (see .Fig 2) :on the rear end of the 'roll'shafts Thelmounting of the two troughs 126 on the supporting frame 17 to 24 is such that each trough extends along'the fram-e .in material .confiningrelation to :the top surfaces of the adjacent pair of harvesterrolls 712,'73fand rearwardly therebeyond, the bottom wallporti'onof the trough between therearwa'rd outer side wall j127(1F.ig. l0) and inner side wall 131 providing Va rear- Vward 'extensiouof thematerial supporting surfaces afforded vvby'rear ends vof the .adjacent husking sections 83 Aand S9.

Longitudinally extending chain guides 133 and 134 iforthe-working cou-rse of thechain .are secured in posi- 'tion-bybolting same to the bottom of the trough 126; andan inner chain guidelt for thc return course of ithe-chain isfsecurediin a like manner on the bottom of samefgenerat-manner asthe front-sprocketf119, this bolt CII passing through and securing the bearing sleeve :between the bottom of the trough .126 and a bracket plate i138 mounted in position on the upper face of the adjacent ends of Ythe chai-n guides .133, 134. The position of the sprocket 137 vis such .as to properly determine the .position of and Aguide the active course of the chain with respect "to the harvesting rolls, so that the .'ights `thereof lie in suitable position over therolls.

A supporting bracket 13'9 is mounted on the upper side of the forward end of plate l93, as more particularly indicated lin Fig. 7, this bracket carrying a suitably braced and vertically offset ange portion 140 on the upper face of which acircumferentially toothed gathering spider A141 of dished formation `and havinga centra-l hub .portion :142 rotatably rmounted .on .a bearing sleeve held in adjustable position by a bolt passing through the bearingsleeve and through a longitudinally elongated slot in the flange portion 140 of the bracket. The bracket itself is preferably held inlaterally adjustable position by bolts passing :downwardly through an aperture in the bracket and through transversely elongated slots 1'43 (see Fig. l5) von the forward end of :plate-93, the bolts being held in position by Ynuts `at the lower side of Vthe plate. The dished spider 141 presents an upwardly facing concave side a-nd its axis is inclined both forwardlyand outwardly'at a slight angle, preferably about fifteen deg-rees, to the vertical, so -that the ylowermost 4portion of the tips of the teeth yof the spider are at the forward inner side thereof, in aposition immediatelyadjacent the ground so that they .may rake the surface of .the ground and lift down stalks and ears during operation of themachine.

Forward-ly extending frame bars 144 (see Fig. v2) are pivotal-ly mounted :on 'a horizontal .ax-is on a pivot carried by bearing 145 (L'Fig. 15:) at the front end of the forward -extension'A9-4of 4the Tframe bars '17; and the 'forward portion of these bars 144 gradually curve inwardly. Upstanding :side shield elements y1146 (Figs. l .and 3) Vof gradually-reduced height ltoward their forward end are secured to the bars .144, with the bars extending beyond theforward fend'of the shields; and the'lrear end vof these shields fit cuts-ide vthe :forward end of inner gathering shields 114 (Figs. l and 3); the pivotal movement of .the bars1'44 and shield element 146 carried thereby being :limited through engagement of inwardly'extending bolts 5148 (see Fig. l) at the upperirear end of-the shields y1:46 passing through :elongated slot-s in the forwardend of each .gathering vshield 1:14.

:Each gathering shield 114is mounted in position atvits forward end by bolts 11'6V passing .throughaninnerV flange bracket ontheouter wall/of thefshield and through the bracketframe 112,'as indicatedinFig. 11.8. Theupwardly rising outer wall'of each'shield 114 is turned inwardly. to .provide an approximately horizontal edge portion which `is'secured .to a ange on the opstanding bracket plate 38 .('see Fig. 3).

The lower. substantially vertical side wall 'of the "shield 11'4 preferably has a rearward extension 149,the`rear end being inclined inwardly, and this verticalwallbeing secured to the upper face of the chain 'guides-133,2134, preferably by the samebolts as are used to vsecure the 'chainaguidcs in position on the trough 126 (see Fig. 12),

Mounted on the-front end of the tractor frame (see Fig. `l) is'the upper .section 150 of a center divider, this section comprising a :forwardly extending roof section -151and a downward projection 152 therefrom having an inclined and generally curved forward wall with side portions extending-alongside and spaced from the front `endof the tractor'frame. This upper section is detachably secured to tractor frame members y2 by means of brackets 153.

A lower center divider section 154 has its Vupper-edge of generally rounded'form, iitting'over thecorresponding shaped lower'edge portion of the upper section 152 of the center divider and has rearwardly extending lside `portions. lthrough 'which *this 'lower se'ction isi pivotaliy mounted in a detachable manner to a lower rear edge portion of the upper section of the divider, preferably through a removable pivot bolt passing through suitably stiffened portions of the side walls of the two sections. The lower forward edge of section 154 is provided with reinforced side strips each provided with a bail or loop into which the forward ends of pivoted arms on the side shield 146 project with a loose guided fit, thus assisting in bracing the lower edge portion of this center divider section 154, while at the same time permitting pivotal movement of this divider section and the shield 146, and insuring that the divider section may follow the raising and lowering of the forward end of the harvester frame to which the shields 146 are pivotally attached.

An inner rear shield section 155 is secured in position (see Fig. 3) by bolts, preferably the same bolts as hold the chain guide 136 in position. The upwardly and outwardly rising wall at the forward portion of the shield is secured by bolts on the rearwardly extending guide wall section 149 of the shield 114; and the rear portion of shield 155 of gradually reducing height has its upper edge in engagement with the inner side of the rear portion of the guide wall extension 149.

A rear end shield or guard 156 (Fig. 3), overlying the upwardly extending driving shafts 68 of the main power drive on which the sprockets 71 are mounted, has forwardly extending side walls inside which the rear ends of the rear extensions 149 of the shield 114 lit and which are preferably bolted to such extensions, preferably in a manner to provide longitudinal adjustment of the xed connection between the parts.

A separate forwardly extending frame bar 157 is detachably bolted to the outer side of the forward end of each frame bar 21, this bar 157 extending forwardly in substantially the same plane as frame bar 21 and the adjacent portion of frame bar 17; and it has an extension 158 secured to the bar at its forward end (see Figs. 3 and 15).

A transversely adjustable stripper plate 159, inclined downwardly so that its inner edge lies over and adjacent harvester roll 72, is mounted on upper ange por tions of brackets 160 secured to the frame bar 157 (see Fig. 17), bolts 161 passing through transversely elongated slots 162 in the stripper plate and apertures in the ilange of brackets 160 secured to the bar 157. These bolts 161 preferably have spacer collars thereon lying in the transverse slots 162 of the stripper plate, a nut on the upper end of each bolt being turned down against the spacing collar so as to secure the collar in ixed position as a guide along which the slotted portion of the stripper plate may move transversely across the brackets 160. This stripper plate is held in any desired position of adjustment with respect to the bar 157 by means of hand bolts 163 each threaded through a projection 164 at the lower side of bracket 160 and passing through an aperture in an outer flange 165 of the stripper plate and held against movement relative to the latter by a ange or enlargement on the bolt bearing against the outer face of the flange 165 and a nut 166, the latter being held in position by a lock nut, and the bolt bearing against the inner face of the latter flange. As the bolts are rotated, they withdraw from or enter the projecting lugs 164 on the brackets to cause the stripper plate 159 to be shifted laterally inward or outward to the desired extent with respect to the adjacent picker section of the harvester roll.

Forwardly of the stripper plate 159 is a second stripper element 167 mounted on the frame bar 157 and the forward extension 158 thereof, by bolts 168 passing through apertures in the frame bars 157 and through transversely elongated slots 169 in the stripper element 167.

The inner edge of the stripper plate 167 is in the form of pivoted stripper sections or leaves 170, 171 having hub sections 172 at their remote lends and hub section' 173 at their adjacent ends, and through which a pivot spindle 174 passes, this spindle likewise passing through apertures in hinge brackets 175 and an intermediate hinge bracket 176 secured in position at the inner edge of the body portion of the plate 167. The intermediate hinge bracket 176 has an upstanding projection flanged over at its upper end, as indicated at 177 (see Fig. 16), this flange having at its inner edge a downwardly inclined projection 178, projections 179 on the adjacent hub por-v 167 and the other end of the springs bears against the' outer edge of the adjacent stripper leaf. A guard plate 181 overlying the hinge brackets may be secured in placey on the upper face of the flange 177. Through this arrangement, the springs bias the leaves in a counterclockwise direction as reviewed in Fig. 16, wherein further downward movement of the leaves is restrained by e11- gagement of the projection 179 on the leaves with stop 178. In operation, the stripper leaves may be rotated on their pivot, so as to raise the inner edges of the leaves,V

by a low hanging ear or a heavy stalk beneath the leaves, to permit an ear to pass upwardly of the inner edges of the leaves, thus insuring that the ear of corn and thev portion of stalk to which it is attached are brought to,

the upper side of the stripper plates into a position where: the ear may be subjected to the normal action of thef snapping roll sections.

A forwardly extending bracket 182 (see Figs. 8 and 9) is pivotally mounted through a base flange 183 and anupper bracket portion 184 thereof, on a bearing sleeve 1851 clamped in position between the upper face of the stripper element 167 and the lower face of the bracket 184, by the: most forward bolt 168 passing through an aperture in the: forward end of the bar 157 and a transversely elongated. slot 169 in the stripper element 167, a securing nut on the upper end of the bolt holding the parts in position. The pivoted bracket 182 is biased inwardly about its pivot by a spring 186 bearing against the outer face of a vertical web of the bracket and is held in position thereagainst under adjustable compression by a nut on the outer end of a bolt 187 passing through the web of the bracket 182 and a vertical flange of a bracket 188 adjustably secured to the inner edge of the stripper element 167 and the extension 158 by a bolt 189 which passes through a transversely elongated slot in the bracket 188. Through this connection, the bracket 188,A against which the head of bolt 189 bears, may be adjusted laterally to vary the normal biased condition of spring 186 and position the bracket 182.

At the forward end of bracket 182 (see Fig. 14) a vertically offset flange portion 190 is provided, this flange portion being turned laterally inward. A bearing sleeve is held in adjustable position between the upper face of the offset flange portion 190 and a securing nut on theupper end of the holding bolt 191, the bolt passing through a longitudinally elongated slot 192 (see Fig. 8) in the flange 190. The hub 193 of a circumferentially toothed dished gathering spider 194 is mounted for free rotation and against axial movement on the bearing sleeve. Thev gathering disk or spider 194, like the gathering spider 141, presents an upwardly facing concave side as best shown in Fig. 14, and its axis of rotation is inclined forwardly and inwardly to a slight extent from the vertical, preferably about fifteen degrees in each direction, so that the teeth of the spider at a point forwardly and inwardly of the pivotal axis constitute the lowest point of the disk.

that is, the position closest to the ground. The position of the pivot of the spider 194 is preferably such that in operation the tooth tips of the spider 194 pass along in substantial contact with the teeth on the gathering spider 1,41 mounted at the forward end of stripper plate 93. It will be noted that the bracket 139 (Fig. 7) affords a bearing structure which is operatively associated with one oi the gathering spiders, that is with the gathering spider 141, and that the longitudinal bar 17 alfords an inner side portion of the harvester frame to which the bracket or bearing structure 182 is secured by means of the stripper plate 93 so as to mount said one gathering spider (141) for rotation on a generally upwardly extending axis in a forwardly and outwardly inclined position as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. Similarly, the bracket 182 (Figs. 8, 9 and 14) affords another bearing structure which is operatively associated with the other of the gathering spiders, that is with the gathering spider 194, and the longitudinal bar 157 alords an outer side portion of the harvester frame to which the bracket or bearing Structure 1.82 is secured by means of the stripper plate 167 so as to mount the other gathering spider 1 94 for rotation on a generally upwardly extending axis in a forwardly and inwardly inclined position. The mechanism comprising the gathering spiders 141 and 194 and their respective mounting structures functions to pick up fallen ears from the ground ahead of the harvester rolls 72 and 73 and to convey said ears rearwardly and upwardly, and to deposit them on the forward portions of the stripper plates 93 and 167. A rearwardly directed shield 195 (see Fig. 9) may be attached in position through the bolt 189 securing the bracket plate 18S, or one or more bolts, to the underside of' the extension 158, the rear open end of this shield guarding the forward point of the adjacent harvester roll 72..

An outer gathering shield 196 is (see Fig. 15) attached in position through a flange at the inner lower edge thereof, to the stripper plate 159, through the bolts 161 which mount the stripper plate on the brackets 160 of bar 157, the shield extending upwardly and curving outwardly to a vertical outer side wall portion, generally as indicated in Fig. 3. The upper portion of this gathering shield may be braced in position by one or more bracing rods secured thereto and to the outer edge of the stripper plate 159, and the lower forward edge of the gathering shield may be suitably stiffened and held in position by one or more braces or plates detachably secured to such lower edge portion and to the outer edges of the stripper plate, as shown in Fig. 14.

A supporting hub or sleeve 197 (see Fig. 3) isl mounted on the forwardY end of the extension 158 of the frame bar 157 and a, bracket secured to the bar 157. A rod 193 is pivotally mounted in the hub 1,97 and carries a forwardly extending channel-like frame 199 oi' gradually tapering width toward its forward end, and a traveling shoe point 200 mounted on the forward end of the channel fr ame 199. A shield 201 of tapering width and generally semicircular cross section is mounted on the shoe 200 and the inner edge of the channel frame 199. This gathering shield may be suitably stiffened along its lower outer edge. The shield 201 may rise and fall to a limited extent about the pivot rod 198, with the rear end of the shield riding over and along the forward end portion of the shield 196, the upward movement of the shield 201 being limited by a binding engagement between the rear end of such shield and the adjacent portion of the gathering shield 196.

An auxiliary shield 202 (see Fig. 1 4) in the form of aA dishedl plate, is attached in position within the lower inner portion of the gathering shield 196 by one or more brackets attached thereto, and serves as a special shield for the body portion of the gathering disk or spider 194.

A rearwardly extending substantially vertical guide plate or wall 203 (see Fig. 3) is attached tothe lower rear part of the inner side wall of the, gathering shieldA 19.6, this guide wall extending rearwardly, with its nearl end, bent inwardly, to the forward edge of the outer guidewall;127 0f. the trough 12,6. and, an. extension or rod 264 fits, into a bail or slotted part 205 carried at the outer side of the wall 127. With this arrangement the rear end ofthe guide wall 203 is definitely positioned with respect to the trough and forms, in conjunction with wall 127, the outer side of a conveyer trough through which the active course of the chain 122 passes, the inner wall of this conveyer trough being formed by the rear extension 149 and the chain guides 133, 134 on which the extension 149 is mounted (see Figs. l, 3 and 10).

A transversely extending hollow bracket portion 206 (see Fig. 3) is secured to and supported by the upper portion of the inner side wall of the gathering shield 196 and is provided with a depending forward wall, this bracket forming a bracing connection between the outer shield 196 and the adjacent portion of the inside gathering shield 114. The inner edge of the bracing bracket portion 206 is provided with a securing bracket or extension 207 at its underside fitting beneath a securing clip 208 attached to the vertical bracket plate 38, bracket 207 having rearwardly opening slots which fit about the shank portions of bolts 209 passing through the clip 208. Securing nuts are drawn up tight against the clip 208 to secure the inner edge of the transverse bracket portion 206 of the outer gathering shield 196 in position.

An ear pressing or retarding plate 210 has a pivot pin 211 secured to its forward end and pivotally mounted in brackets 212 secured to the upper edge of the extension wall 203 and to the upper edge of the side wall extension 149 of the inner shield 114. The outer end of the pivot pin is bent down at right angles, as indicated at 213 (see Figs. 5 and 6) beyond the outer side wall of the extension 203. The retarding plate 210 extends rearwardly and downwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from its pivot and its rearward end 214 lies substantially horizontal under normal conditions. The rearwardly inclined portion has downwardly extending bracing ribs or flanges 215 at its side edges, and the rearward portion has its side edges flanged upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 216, these latter anges being of reduced heightA and width toward the rear and merging into the side edges of the inclined portion of the plate.

The retarding plate lies over the husking sections of the harvester rolls and presses downwardly upon the ears of corn carried along by the chain and forces them into such intimate contact with the husking roll sections as to insure that the rolls, particularly through the action of the huskingpegsl thereof, will seize the husks and start the latter through the rolls, to thereby remove the husks.

The retarding plate isV yieldingly urged downward by a tension spring 217 secured in an adjustable manner at oneV end to abracket 21S attached in adjustable position to the extension wall 203 of the gathering shield 196, and at the other end to the downwardly projecting portion 213 of the pivotY rod. The portion 213 of the pivot rod 211 forms a movable stop element which bears against a fixed stop element afforded by the rearward edge of the bracket 218 to limit the downward movement of the retarding plate about its pivot to such a degree as to permit the plate to yieldi'nglyl press earsV of different sizes against the rolls, while at the same time not interfering with the passage of the nights 123 of the conveyer chain.

The side walls of the ear elevatingA conveyer 16 are selectively longitudinally aligned with side walls 127 by means. of projections 219V iittingv into bails formed on the sidesl ofV 127. The lower portion of conveyer 16 is detachably supported on brackets 222 or frame members 1-7 and the upper portion of conveyer 16 is detachably connected tothe tractor by meansv of rods 220. Endless conveyer; 2-21, operatively connected to gear 61 is supported irrcoru/eyery 16. The side walls of conveyer 16' formA a hopper for directing ears of corn from the rear end ofthe rolls 7 2, 73 into contact with endless conveyer 221 which elevates ears to a point of discharge or collection.

WithVA the corn harvester, including the elevating corr-v veyer, mounted on the tractor, the harvester is fairly well balanced about its pivots 27, with allowance for the necessary excess weight at the forward end to insure downward bias thereof; and a complete picker-husker unit is carried at each side and below the front portion of reduced width of the tractor, with the forward portion of the harvester rolls laterally outside of the front tractor wheels and the harvester rolls laterally within the tread of the rear tractor wheels, and the stripper plates, the gathering spiders and the forward chain guides suitably adjusted for the general condition of the crop. The central divider and the front wheels of the tractor travel between two adjacent rows of corn, and the tractor wheels travel outside of these rows. If the stalks are in a generally down condition, the forward end of the harvester frame is tilted down so that the forward traveling shoes on the central divider and the outer gathering shields ride along or adjacent the ground and, through action of the center divider and the forward gathering shields, supplemented by gathering spiders 141 and 194, broken and down stalks are lifted toward the vertical position, and fallen ears are lifted. As the stalks come under the inuence of the gathering chain, they move along above the stripper element 93 and the forward hinged leaves 170, 171 of the stripper element 167, these leaves yielding sutiiciently to permit any low hanging ears to ride upwardly to the upper side of the stripper plates. As the stalks move along the snapping sections f the rolls, the forward bearing of the outer roll 72 yields sufficiently to accommodate the stalks between the rolls, until the rear portion of the snapping section snaps otf the ears, the latter remaining always above the stripper plates, so that the kernels adjacent the butts of the ears cannot be drawn into or pinched by the rolls.

The relatively rearward movement of the upper part of the stalks along the rolls is limited by the stalks engaging the bearing housing 23 and the forward wall of the inwardly projecting brace extension 206 of the outer gathering shields. The picked ears are conveyed by the ights of the chain 122 over and in contact with the husking roll sections, the yielding presser plate 210 insuring sufficiently forcible contact of the ears with the rolls to enable the husking rolls to seize and peel off the husks, carrying the latter downwardly through the rolls. The formation of the presser plates and the flights 123 0f the conveying chain are such that the presser plate accomplishes its desired function without interference with the chain. The conveying chain carries the husked ears from the husking section, over the guard lip 152 of the trough 126 and onto and along the bottom wall of the trough from the rear end of which the ears drop into the well at the forward end of the elevating conveyer 16, from whence the ears are carried upwardly and rearwardly and discharged into a trailing wagon.

It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular details of construction and design shown and that the invention includes such other applications and modifications as are fairly included within the scope of the annexed claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame carrying a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined cooperative harvester rolls, each of said rolls comprising a husking section, a conveying chain carried by said frame at the inner side of one of said rolls with the flights of the active course of said chain passing along and over said rolls and rearwardly beyond the latter, said chain being operative to convey picked ears rearwardly and upwardly over said husking rolls and to convey husked ears rearwardly from said husking rolls to a rear collection point, a presser plate pivotally mounted at a forward end portion thereof for up and down swinging movement about a transverse axis overlying said rolls and chain, meansfor lbiasing said presser plate to engage and yieldingly urge picked ears against said rolls, a movable stop element 14 associated with said presser plate, and a fixed stop element associated with said frame in coacting relation with said movable stop element so as to limit the downwardmovement of said plate and thereby prevent said plate from interfering with the movement of said chain.

2. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative harvester rolls mounted on said supporting frame with the outer roll at a slightly higher lever than the inner roll, each of said rolls comprising a forward picker section, stripper plates mounted on said frame and each overlying the adjacent roll, means mounted on said supporting frame for laterally adjusting one of said stripper plates, the adjacent edges of said stripper plates being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of an ear of corn, the inner edge of the forward portion of one of said stripper plates being in the form of a pivotally mounted stripper leaf, spring means mounted on said supporting frame for biasing said leaf to normal operative position and permitting yielding upward movement of the inner edge of said leaf, and stop means mounted on said supporting frame for limiting the movement of said leaf in the direction of its bias.

3. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative harvester rolls mounted on said frame, a gathering and conveying mechanism operatively mounted on said frame, said mechanism including a chain having flights traveling rearwardly along said rolls, a front sprocket for said chain, an adjustable support rotatably mounting said front sprocket and operatively connected with said frame for limited free longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of said adjustable support to any one of a plurality of fixed positions, biasing means operatively associated with said front sprocket support for urging said support forwardly independently of its position of lateral adjustment, and a guide for the active course of said chain carried by said sprocket support and laterally adjustable therewith.

4. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative harvester rolls mounted on said frame, a gathering and conveying mechanism operatively mounted on said frame, said mechanism including a chain having flights traveling rearwardly over said rolls, a front sprocket for said chain, an adjustable support rotatably mounting said front sprocket and operatively connected with said frame for limited free longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of said adjustable support to any one of a plurality of xed positions, a supporting bracket mounted on said frame and adjustable laterally thereon to any one of a plurality of fixed positions, and resilient means carried by said supporting bracket for yieldingly urging said adjustable support to a forward position independently of the position of lateral adjustment of said supporting bracket or said adjustable support, and guides for the active course of said chain carried by said adjustable support and said supporting bracket and laterally adjustable therewith.

5. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame having laterally spaced inner and outer side portions; a pair of forwardly extending cooperative harvester rolls carried by said frame and each having a forward picker section; stripper plates mounted on said frame adjacent to and overlying said rolls and having stripping edges, respectively, spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of an ear of corn; and a mechanism for picking up fallen ears from the ground ahead of said harvester rolls and for conveying said ears rearwardly and upwardly and depositing them on the forward portion of said stripper plates, said ear pickup mechanism comprising a pair of circumferentially toothed gathering spiders, a bearing structure operatively associated with one of said spiders and secured to said inner side portion of said supporting frame so as to mount said one spider for rotation on a generally upwardly extending axis in a forwardly and outwardly inclined position, and another bearing structure operatively associated with the other of said gatherrespectively.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Avery et al. Ian. Osborne Feb. Meader Oct. Goodhue Sept. Bursell Feb.

16. Brass Aug. 27, 1907- Liebl Oct. 5, 1915 Hughes Apr. 5, 1921 Rosenthal Mar. 26, 1929 Groves Feb. 24, 1931 Paradise et al. Apr. 12, 1932 Everett et al. Dec. 26, 1933 Coultas et al. June 11, 1935 Kuhlman Aug. 8, 1939 Kuhlman Nov. 21, 1939 Rund, Jr. Aug. 6, 1940 Morral et al. July 7, 1942 Jochumsen Aug. 25, 1942 

